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Elephant Rumblings: End-of-Season Musings and Offseason Look Ahead

Sep 22, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics right fielder Carlos Cortes (26) celebrates with shortstop Alika Williams (12) after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Good morning A’s fans!

Last night, the Athletics erased the bad taste of their winless road trip with a wild late-game comeback, overcoming a six-run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of their season-ending homestand. With just five games remaining in the regular season, time is running out for A’s players to leave positive final impressions before the long offseason ahead.

Due to the rash of injuries the team’s starting position players suffered, the A’s were not able to obtain much of a glimpse of the full-strength squad’s potential. Brent Rooker’s knee injury resulted in a lost season for the slugger, while maladies also caused fellow starters Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz to miss a large chunk of time.

As a result, the team’s offense struggled to score enough runs to make up for its league-worst pitching staff, particularly a bullpen largely comprising spare parts discarded from other organizations.

Several position-players stepped up into the void created by the team’s numerous injuries. While Zack Gelof, Henry Bolte, Alika Williams and Donovan Walton made positive impressions, others such as Max Muncy, Tommy White and Jonah Heim failed to fully make the most of extended playing time. Those three are long shots to begin next season with the A’s. Heim’s pathway is the likeliest, but only if the upcoming free agent re-signs to continue being the backup catcher.

Given the numerous position-player options the Athletics have at their disposal, the club should invest the majority of its resources this offseason into reinforcing its pitching staff. Whether that means spending money to lure free-agent arms or using its surplus of major-league ready hitters to acquire a pitcher via trade, the Green and Gold cannot afford to sit on the sidelines for a second consecutive offseason.

It will be interesting to see who the Athletics hire as their next general manager and the direction he/she chooses to take. With a few quality pitching additions and better injury luck, the franchise could quickly find itself back in playoff contention next summer. That is if this winter’s CBA lockout does not completely wipe out the 2027 season.

How should the Athletics approach this upcoming offseason? What are you hoping to see from the team over these last few games of 2026?

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

Will the Athletics play a normal 2027 season, or will the CBA negotiations result in MLB’s first strike since 1994?

Which player was the A’s Most Valuable Player this season?

The Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators, won the first game of the 2026 Pacific Coast League championship series.

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DeBoer Praises Aitcheson, Young Isles For Poise Inside MSG

The New York Islanders went into Madison Square Garden last night with a near-full lineup of veterans, erased a 3-0 deficit, and knocked off the New York Rangers 4-3.

The game was full of big moments for the Islanders, but the number one highlight has to be Semyon Varlamov's return to the NHL, even in preseason form.

Beyond the emotional Varlamov return, the Islanders ran out a mostly-NHL lineup on Tuesday night. Cole Eiserman and Kashawn Aitcheson both played, as did Victor Eklund.

Eklund and Eiserman skated with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and had a very strong game as a whole as a line.

Aitcheson, meanwhile, skated with Scott Mayfield and faced a very tough Rangers team, and in the process, he caught Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer's eye.

“I thought he did a good job," DeBoer said postgame. "It’s a big ask. You’re coming into MSG, the bright lights of New York, and I thought all our young guys, again, played well. We’re giving them a lot of opportunity here in big situations to really kind of show us what they can do.”

The opportunity for Aitcheson is massive, even if he doesn't make the team outright. With the way he's played throughout training camp, he has played himself right into first call up consideration if and when injuries may strike.

With Matthew Schaefer on the right side, it's one less player in the path of Aitcheson's goal of the NHL. 

The Islanders have stated that 2026-27 is a transitional year. People have taken that to mean the Islanders may not compete or go all-in.

It's just the opposite. Under DeBoer, and with a wide open Metropolitan Division, the Islanders could very well compete and earn a playoff spot. The transition is the emergence of young players as key contributors.

Eklund will be on the opening night roster, barring an absolute shock. Eiserman and Aitcheson likely won't be due to the numbers game, but both have had extremely solid camps and feel extremely likely to play NHL games at some point this season.

That's the transition. Aitcheson's tenacious game along with Eiserman's electric offensive zone displays should be an unbelievable bright spot for the Hamilton Hammers in the AHL.

This training camp has been an unquestioned success when evaluating Aitcheson and Eiserman. Both have things to work on, but both are much closer to the NHL than a lot of people realized entering this year.

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How much can Dean Wade help the Sixers?

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is introduced before the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Dean Wade started his offseason as a pretty big deal for the Sixers. For a team that needed more forward depth, defense, and a touch of extra shooting, he delivered. As a free agent signing on a good value four-year, $39 million deal, Wade was a pretty ideal addition for many fans.

Then LeBron James made his decision.

But the absolute shock and joy of LeBron’s signing shouldn’t completely overshadow Wade.

Even though Wade’s role has clearly changed with LeBron’s arrival, there’s still loads to like about what Wade has to offer. What he can do for the team on a nightly basis, how he can step up when others miss time, and the versatility he’ll help create.

Wade’s basic numbers for the Cavaliers weren’t flashy last season. In 22.3 minutes per game (with 38 starts), he averaged 5.8 points on a 58.0 true shooting percentage, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks.

Offensively, he brings enough shooting to keep defenses honest. His drawback as a scorer is that he isn’t very aggressive, either when attacking the basket (mainly against closeouts) or when firing from three. He’s averaged a modest 5.8 attempts per 36 minutes for his career and 3.3 per game last season, so his volume isn’t too high to scare defenses. His efficiency is solid enough, though, with a 36.2 three-point percentage last season and 36.7 percent for his career. Essentially, he’s a good enough shooter when he’s alongside a ton of other talent that defenses are always going to be more worried about anyway. Wade’s a solid ball mover as well. He’ll make smart extra passes and not force reads, which bodes well for him being a reliable connector alongside the Sixers’ many higher usage stars.

It’s defense where Wade will shine for the Sixers. He’s such a versatile forward, possessing not just great size at 6-foot-9 with length and solid strength, but the quickness to switch onto tough guard assignments. Regularly guarding 1 through 4 is no problem. Wade uses his range to bother forwards, contest drives to the rim, generate a solid 3.1 deflections per 36 minutes, and provide a touch of help at the rim with smart timing, help rotations and general awareness. He’s proactive in finding opportunities to break up plays as well with how he digs against drivers and cutters, and attacks the ball as a help defender.

Those same qualities translate to how he covers guards as well. He has the lateral quickness to cover shiftier players on the ball, and the timing and length to bother drivers and deter shots at the rim when guards do take him on downhill. Nick Nurse should love having the option of using Wade in matchups where the smaller Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe or Anfernee Simons may struggle.

Wade’s usage in the playoffs this year was a prime example. He started the first round spending a lot of his time effectively defending Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, and finished helping guard the craftier Jalen Brunson in the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade’s range is clear.

That versatility and impactful team defense is exactly what the Sixers need from role players who can seamlessly fit in and maximize star-heavy lineups.

Of course, now that LeBron is in town, Wade’s playing time won’t be quite as high as it was expected to be when he signed. That said, Wade averaging similar minutes to last season in Cleveland (22.3 a game) or even higher for some stretches of the year shouldn’t come as a surprise.

On a team with so many stars who can create and lead the offense, having a player like Wade who can plug in and play in any kind of lineup is hugely valuable. He can slot in and guard almost anyone as needed, and keep the offenese ticking with enough spot-up threes and reliable extra ball movement. He can let the Sixers upsize with forward-heavy lineups thanks to his ability to cover guards, or take on the toughest forward assignments when needed. Especially if the Sixers go smaller with two or three of Maxey, Edgecombe and Simons. It’s safe to say Wade will boost Nurse’s creativity and lineup options.

Wade is an excellent example of a player who does the little things well and is happy thriving on defense while others dominate touches offensively. That’s what these Sixers need, and Wade should start showing that from day one.

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Padres get reality check in shutout loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres tags out Josue De Paula #95 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at home plate during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres were riding high after a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, which followed winning three out of four against the Colorado Rockies. They took that momentum into UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium to face the Los Angeles Dodgers and got smacked in the mouth while being held scoreless on just five hits in a 7-0 loss on Tuesday night.

The loss was made worse when you factor in the San Diego ace, Michael King, was on the mound. The right-hander had been dominant over recent starts and was the unquestioned leader in the rotation — and he still is, but he took some lumps in his latest outing against Los Angeles. King was tagged for five runs on six hits in just four innings of work. He also allowed two walks, both of which led to runs for the Dodgers, and recorded five strikeouts.

The red-hot Padres offense which had been putting up runs and hits in bunches, went quiet — a story the Friar Faithful know all too well after recent playoff struggles against the National League West rivals. Luis Campusano was the only San Diego player to have multiple hits in the game and that was two. Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the game with a hit, but did not get anything else in the contest. Xander Bogaerts was the only other Padres regular with a hit and Ethan Salas recorded a pinch-hit single in his first plate appearance in the top of the sixth inning.

The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Rockies. The Miami Marlins beat the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers. The positive from all of that is the Padres have the same record as the Cubs and Phillies, but both teams have the tie breaker over the Friars. However, they remain in control of their destiny and the magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains at two. San Diego will try to move that number to one, and hope for some help from Colorado to knock off Arizona to claim a playoff spot.

The first step for the Padres is to beat the Dodgers and they will attempt to do that tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Padres News:

  • Jake Cronenworth was named Player of the Week, following Jackson Merrill’s selection for the same recognition last week.

Baseball News:

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College basketball world mourns Chris Spatola's death: 'All-time great dudes'

ESPN analyst Chris Spatola, 47, unexpectedly died on Monday, Sept. 21, leaving the college basketball world heartbroken.

Spatola, who ranks 10th on Army's all-time scoring list, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002-07 following his four-year playing career. He returned to college basketball as a staff member at Duke under his father-in-law Mike Krzyzewski, one of the sport's greatest coaches, from 2007-12 before becoming a broadcaster.

REQUIRED READING: Chris Spatola, ESPN personality and son-in-law of Mike Krzyzewski, suddenly dies at 47

"Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN's college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach and broadcaster," ESPN said in a statement. "He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time."

It's clear Spatola meant a lot to numerous people in the industry. Those who knew him called him "kind," "egoless" and "an all-time dude" in tributes on social media.

Here are some of those tributes to Spatola:

College basketball, media world mourn Chris Spatola's death

Steve Kornacki, known for election day coverage for NBC, offered interesting perspective on Spatola's path to broadcasting. He said he hadn't seen him in years, but was always touched by what Spatola accomplished.

"This is just shocking," Kornacki wrote. "I grew up with Chris and while I hadn’t seen him in a very long time, I was so impressed over the years watching all that he became and achieved in life. He had to be the best basketball player to come through our small town and it was obvious back then he was going places. The kid I remember was friendly and warm and funny and great to talk to and also unusually smart and ambitious. And he put it all together in life.

"Just a huge, total success story who I know made a lot of people from his Groton-Dunstable Middle School days proud. RIP to him and deepest sympathies to his loved ones and many friends."

ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Mike Monaco worked college basketball games with Spatola over the years, saying he was lucky to know him.

"Shocked and devastated to hear the news about Chris," Monaco wrote. "Just keep staring at the screen. Simply a damn good human being. Smart, witty, curious, principled, and kind. And man did he love his family. Praying hard for his family & all those lucky enough to know him."

Numerous tributes noted Spatola's love for his family, including Baylor coach Scott Drew, who called him a "great friend."

"Chris was a friend and someone I really respected," Drew said. "So many Great Memories of Baylor Games he announced. He often talked about his family and I know how much he loved them. Praying for the Spatola Family."

Here are some of the other best tributes to Spatola:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball world mourns Chris Spatola's death: 'All-time great dudes'

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How much does this week matter for the Red Sox?

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Aroldis Chapman #44 of the Boston Red Sox and Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox react after clinching a playoff berth following a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 20, 2026 at at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Wednesday, OTM readers! For the Red Sox, this week’s games are largely meaningless. They’re all but locked into the fifth seed, with a trip to the Bronx waiting for them in the Wild Card round. So, are you watching the games this week? Last night, for the first time in a long time, I opted to watch the Cubs and Phillies to see how the NL playoff picture would shake out. I’ll be at the game tonight with my softball team, and I’ll be watching tomorrow to see how Ranger Suarez approaches things, but I really won’t care about the outcome.

Do you watch every game? Are you watching the next few nights? Are you an adult who has other things to take care of and doesn’t schedule your life around the Red Sox? Talk about this and whatever else you’d like in the comments. Be respectful to one another, and go Sox.

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Kansas City Royals news: Last stand starts with a whimper

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Nick Loftin #12 of the Kansas City Royals reacts at first base after hitting an RBI single in the seventh inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 19, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams looks ahead to the cold outlook for the Royals this coming offseason.

Although the 2026 season was an immense disappointment, it’s unlikely that there will be sweeping changes made to organizational leadership. The Royals extended manager Matt Quatraro on a new three-year contract that covers the 2027-29 seasons — with a club option for 2030 — back in February. General manager J.J. Picollo signed a five-year extension just 11 months prior. He’s under contract through 2030, with a club option for the 2031 season. Prolonged struggles can eventually jeopardize executives and managers even when they’re under contract, but it’s quite rare for those figures to be replaced so early in long-term contracts — and the Royals have historically been a franchise that’s very loyal to its top decision-makers.

The challenges for Picollo and his staff this winter will be significant. They’ll have multiple needs to address both on the pitching side of the roster and in the lineup. They’ll need to do so without a great deal of payroll space, barring a sudden hike in spending from owner John Sherman. One could argue that those facts, coupled with a last-place finish in a thin American League Central, signal there’s a need for a more forward-looking, long-term approach this offseason, but Kansas City’s activity at the trade deadline was indicative of the fact that a rebuild isn’t in the cards.

Kansas City Star’s Pete Grathoff details how the AL Central this week really depends on how the Royals play at home.

Being mediocre in the American League kept most teams in the postseason hunt, but the Royals couldn’t even manage that. However, the Royals can make life miserable for their division rivals. The race for the Central crown is between the Guardians and White Sox, and the Royals will play both teams this week at Kauffman Stadium. “I’m looking forward to playing these guys this week,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters Sunday after KC’s 4-3 loss to the Pirates. “We can have something to say about who wins the division, who goes to the playoffs, and I’m looking forward to competing.”

The Athletics’ power rankings have Kansas City at 25th as the season comes to an end, but there is one clear reason to watch the team in 2027.

One reason to believe in next year: [Holds up a photo of Bobby Witt Jr.] What, are you gonna not watch this guy?

Count me among those with egg on my face when it comes to the 2026 Kansas City Royals. I expected them to compete with the Tigers for a division title. Let’s just check in on those standings …

Right. Neat.

So do you really want me to tell you what is coming in 2027? Probably not.

Instead, I’ll just say it’s always a pleasure to watch Bobby Witt Jr. play. Carter Jensen looks like a successful successor to Salvador Pérez at catcher, Jac Caglianone looks legit, and I think Noah Cameron has borderline-ace potential.

Will Vinnie Pasquantino come into his own as a star first baseman? Will Cole Ragans recover from a disaster season?

And what will they do about the bullpen? If you set the minimum number of innings to two — two innings — here are your bullpen ERA leaders:

36-year-old Anthony Gose (0.00, 9.2 innings)
32-year-old Jose Cuas (2.21, 20.1 innings)
31-year-old Randy Dobnak (3.02, 73 innings)
That’s right. Not a single reliever who has thrown more than 21 innings has an ERA under 3.00. How common is that? This year, only three* other teams are in the same boat: the Twins, Mariners and Nationals (who set a new MLB record for blown saves in a season). — Weaver

*Daniel Lynch IV had an ERA of 1.96 as a reliever, but was moved into the rotation in early August. Since we’re looking forward to 2027, I’m not counting him.

**The Angels only had one guy, Chase Silseth, and they traded him. So … count them if you want, they’re 60-96.

Kings of Kauffman’s Matthew Swigonski has high expectations for Royals prospect Carson Roccaforte after a strong 2026 season.

This year, Roccaforte took that next step the Royals had been waiting for. While spending the majority of the 2026 season at Double-A, Roccaforte saw an even greater boost in his power. He belted 30 home runs and drove in 80 runs before being promoted to Triple-A Omaha in August, where he continued to rake. In 28 games for the Storm Chasers, Roccaforte put up an .862 OPS.

There is just one flaw that is holding back his offensive game. Like in his previous seasons, Roccaforte has continued to fall victim to the K. In 540 at-bats this season, he struck out 181 times. But as his power stroke develops at an encouraging clip, it may be something that the Royals will be able to live with.

With bats like Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone, and Bobby Witt Jr. already in the lineup, Royals fans could see an exciting change coming in 2027. Paired with fellow prospect Blake Mitchell, the addition of Roccaforte could transform the ball club into an explosive offensive powerhouse. The Royals could be young enough and good enough to compete with the Chicago White Sox as the team to watch out for in the AL Central over the next several years.

FanSided’s Robert Murray polled MLB agents on the sticking points in the MLB labor negotiations, with ACES’ Seth Levinson pointing out the competitive balance as an underrated aspect.

If the concern is that small-market clubs cannot compete with big markets, then we must first understand that small markets receive billions of dollars in subsidies through central revenues, local revenue sharing, and the redistribution of luxury tax proceeds.

Beyond the finances, the MLBPA has identified additional paths to level the playing field. For instance, the argument is that despite the subsidies, small-market clubs cannot afford to acquire high-end talent in free agency and must rely heavily on the draft. Generally speaking, why not allow small-market teams to pick at the top of the draft to ensure they can acquire young, talented, and affordable players? Brilliantly run clubs like Tampa and Milwaukee should not suffer draft position as a result of their success, while big-market clubs reap the benefits of their failures. Does anyone believe it would be fair for the Mets to have the first pick in the draft, which is a possibility?

Additionally, there has been an influx of professional Japanese players, who have immediately contributed at the big-league level. History has shown that most, if not all, of these enormously talented players sign with big-market clubs. Why not make those players subject to a draft or available only to small market clubs?

Royals Keep’s Kevin O’Brien answers whether the Royals should keep Daniel Lynch IV in the rotation or not in early 2027.

Baseball America put out their final RoboScout hitter and pitcher rankings, with Quad Cities southpaw David Shields at 13th.

Meet the new favorite to go first overall in the coming MLB Draft, infielder Dylan Seward.

Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper looks at how runs surged across minor-league baseball in 2026, and what it means for player evaluation.

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes puts some blame for 2026 struggles on playing in the World Baseball Classic.

Ahead of a return to the postseason, the Chicago Cubs are giving Chicago fun baseball again for better or worse.

With the ABS challenge system coming to the big leagues in 2026, the strike zone responded in kind by getting tighter.

Detroit Tigers legend Justin Verlander will start Saturday as the 43-year-old bids farewell.

The New York Mets make Andy Green their full-time manager, giving him a three-year contract to turn the NL East club around.

The Boston Red Sox removed the interim tag from manager Chad Tracy following a positive turnaround into the postseason.

MLB already has an exemption in place for its annual scouting dead period, with the WBSC U-18 Pan American Championship next month in the Dominican Republic.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is unlikely to play in the Wild Card series after receiving an injection in his right calf.

FanGraph’s Michael Baumann looks at the bleeding behind the pinstripes if the Yankees do not have Judge in the postseason lineup.

Chicago White Sox Chase Meidroth is producing big power numbers despite hitting the ball and swinging softer.

Former Los Angeles Angels executive Andrew Ball looks back on where the team went wrong during his five-year tenure with the club.

Cole Roberts, son of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, finds his own way down on the farm leading a team.

Pebble Hunting looks at those darn batting helmets, always getting in the way.

Nebraska and Miami (Ohio) are set to open their 2027 seasons in Arrowhead Stadium.

The Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard agree to a two-year extension worth $115 million.

NBA veteran Nicolas Batum calls it a career after 18 years in the NBA.

Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles is blowing past rookie records set by Caitlin Clark, but how does she do it?

Jessica Shepard bet on herself going to the Dallas Wings. That is paying off, not to the surprise of her or her teammates.

Swifites go nuts as Taylor Swift announces her first song, “Patient Zero”, since marrying Travis Kelce this summer.

American Royal opens a $375 million campus worthy of the historic name.

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Marlins 8, Cubs 2: RISPy business and an Edward Cabrera meltdown

Let this stand as a monument to perhaps the worst Cubs defeat of the entire 2026 season:

I could just end the tale of the Cubs’ 8-2 loss to the Marlins Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field right there, because that’s basically the entire story. Runners all over the place, RISP left in the third, fifth, sixth (bases loaded, one out!), seventh, ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th innings.

Had enough? I sure did after four hours, 10 minutes of that.

Oh, and then there was Edward Cabrera getting pounded all over the place. If the Cubs could have had just one more key hit in several different situations, they win and Cabrera’s never even in the game.

Sigh. Let’s recap anyway.

The game went scoreless into the fourth, starters Shōta Imanaga and Janson Junk keeping most trouble off the basepaths, helped by a 12 mile per hour wind blowing in. Imanaga also helped himself by picking off Heriberto Hernandez in the third [VIDEO].

The play was close, ruled safe on the field, overturned on review.

The other thing worth noting in the first three innings was Pete Crow-Armstrong drawing a two-out walk and stealing second, his 39th, bringing him within one of a 40/40 season [VIDEO].

The Marlins took the lead in the fourth. Kyle Stowers doubled off Imanaga with one out and two singles brought him in to make it 1-0. But Imanaga ran up a high pitch count in that inning and so was done after five, having thrown 91 pitches. More on Imanaga’s night from BCB’s JohnW53:

Shōta Imanaga’s start was the sixth by a Cub this season of exactly five innings with at least 91 pitches.

It was the third by Imanaga. Edward Cabrera has two and Kevin Gausman, one.

Imanaga gave up only one run in each of his starts. The first was 92 pitches at Cleveland on April 5 and the second was 102 pitches at Cincinnati on July 10.

Aaron Civale, who’s been so good in relief this year, wasn’t on this night. Stowers, the second batter he faced, hit a towering home run to left that sliced through the wind, making it 2-0.

The Cubs could do little with Janson Junk through five innings, but tied things up in the sixth. PCA hit a ground ball up the middle that went for a hit after review. A single by Seiya Suzuki moved PCA to third.

Then this happened [VIDEO].

A poor throw to the plate allowed PCA to score and Suzuki to take third. Junk was removed (that’s a baseball move, not commentary) and reliever Cade Gibson struck out pinch-hitter Matt Shaw. (This is where the Cubs really miss Alex Bregman.)

Ian Happ was next, and he singled in Suzuki to tie the game at 2 [VIDEO].

Busch took third on the hit. Nico Hoerner was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.

This is where the Cubs offense should have broken this game open. But they did not. Pedro Ramirez hit a line drive to first and Carson Kelly struck out, leaving the game tied heading to the seventh.

Civale threw a scoreless seventh. With two out in the bottom of the inning, PCA doubled and Busch was intentionally passed. Shaw hit a line drive to right that was caught to end the inning.

Daniel Palencia threw the eighth, retiring all three Marlins he faced on just eight pitches, hitting 100 again several times. This is really good news. But the Cubs were retired in order in the bottom of the inning by Eury Perez, normally a starter. In this game, the first relief appearance of his career, he struck out Happ, Hoerner and Ramirez to send the game to the ninth.

Palencia recorded a strikeout to begin the ninth, then Ryan Rolison entered the game, allowing a single to the first hitter he faced, then retiring the side without incident.

So the Cubs now have a chance to walk things off. PCA hit a double down the right-field line with two out. But there he stood as Suzuki popped up to send the game to extras.

Rolison struck out the first two Marlins in the 10th but with the right-handed Hernandez due up, Ryan Zeferjahn was summoned. After wild-pitching the placed runner to third, Zeferjahn ended the inning by getting this fly to left [VIDEO].

In the bottom of the 10th, Suzuki was the placed runner. Busch was given another intentional walk after running the count to 3-0. That walk set a franchise record. From John:

The intentional walk to Michael Busch in the 10th inning was the Cubs’ third walk of the game and 657th of the season, breaking the team record of 656 set in 2016. That had been six more than their previous high of 650, which had stood for 41 years, since 1975.

This is only the ninth season since 1901 in which the Cubs have reached 600 walks. The most recent had been 2017, with 622.

At their current pace, the Cubs will finish with 679. Only three teams have had more in the past 25 years: the 2003 Yankees, 684; 2007 Red Sox, 689; and 2004 Giants, 705.

Shaw attempted to bunt. This is not a bad strategy in the bottom of an extra inning with the game tied, a runner on second and nobody out. You want to get that winning run to third, where it could score on a fly ball. The thing is, bunting is becoming a lost art. After taking two pitches out of the zone, Shaw bunted a ball foul, then popped up another bunt to the pitcher.

Happ then flied to left, but Hoerner drew a walk to load the bases. Ramirez ran the count to 3-1. One more ball and the Cubs win! But Ramirez took strike two, then grounded to second.

In the 11th, Zeferjahn gave up a single, then struck out Stowers. But that was followed by a walk to load the bases. In came Caleb Thielbar, who retired the next two Marlins to end the inning.

Ramirez was the placed runner in the bottom of the 11th, but he went nowhere. Kelly and Dansby Swanson struck out and after PCA was intentionally passed, Suzuki grounded out to send the game to the 12th, making this the longest game by innings at Wrigley Field since May 7, 2023 — also against the Marlins. (The Cubs won that game 4-3.)

Here’s where the wheels fell off. Thielbar gave up a bloop single to left to Griffin Conine, scoring placed runner Esteury Ruiz to make it 3-2. A sacrifice bunt — see, someone does know how to do that! — moved Conine to second, where a single by Jacob Marsee made it 4-2.

Two runs is not an insurmountable deficit in extra innings, but Edward Cabrera entered the game and made it that way. I’ll spare you most of the carnage, but the first five batters Cabrera faced did this: walk, hit batter, walk, single, single and it’s 8-2.

This performance made one Cubs decision easy. Edward Cabrera’s not going to be on any Cubs postseason roster, not pitching like that. This had “Ryan Pressly’s nine-run extra inning” vibes all over it.

The Cubs then went down meekly 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 12th to end the game in four hours, 10 minutes, the first Cubs game to run four-plus hours since Sept. 16, 2023, a 13-inning game at Arizona.

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments [VIDEO].

After all that, this is still not the end of the world. The Cubs could have clinched a postseason spot with a win (since the Diamondbacks also won), but that will have to wait until at least tonight. The Padres lost and the Phillies won their games Tuesday, so now all three — Cubs, Padres, Phillies — are tied at 87-70. The Cubs have the tiebreaker in all situations with those two teams, including in a three-way tie. That means if the Cubs can win out, they’d still get the top wild card spot no matter what the other teams do.

But the Cubs are going to have to find ways to win games like these, or any postseason run this year is going to be short. Again, you can clearly see where the presence of a hot-hitting Alex Bregman might have won this one.

The Cubs will look to even up this series Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Kevin Gausman will start for the Cubs and Ryan Gusto goes for Miami. Game time is again 6:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

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Detroit Tigers News: Justin Verlander returns, Dillon Dingler, Aaron Judge, Alex Bregman, Paul Skenes

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 9: Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers gets a live welcome at Oracle Park on August 9, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Wednesday, everyone! While the season might be winding down, we still have things to look forward to. First and foremost, this weekend the Tigers will bid farewell to Justin Verlander in the best way possible: with a confirmed final start on Saturday. It will be very poetic to see his career end where it began, and despite how the season has gone, the seats should be packed for the last weekend.

We look at what Verlander said about his last hurrah, and we also share how Dillon Dingler has won this season’s Heart and Hustle Award, why Paul Skenes is blaming the WBC for his pitching woes, and how the Yankees are going to manage in the Wild Card without Aaron Judge.

Let’s just jump right into it.

Detroit Tigers News

  • JV is ready to go!

When Verlander spoke about a successful bullpen session on Tuesday, he was candid about the excitement and the work it took him to get to this point.

“Obviously we’ve gotten tantalizingly close a couple times, so we’ve been cautious with how we announce things this time. So to do that step, I felt really pleased about. It was like a breath of fresh air coming off the mound. Just don’t do anything stupid between now and Saturday, and we should be good.”

He opened up about how much it means to him to be able to end his career where it began, and what the fans mean to him.

“And I’ve been so thankful — I think thankful’s probably a word you’ll hear a lot here the last few days. I’ve been so thankful to be here back where it started, the love that these fans have shown me even when I’m not out there pitching, whether it’s this stadium, visiting stadiums, around the city, it’s meant so much to me and really helped me through this process to feel better about how this season has gone, to know that it means something not just to me, but to the fans too.

I think for that reason, that’s a large driving factor in this. I could’ve easily hung it up a month or two ago, but really pushed as hard as I possibly could, skipping a lot of steps, risking some serious injury potentially. But hey, that’s what I’ve done my whole career. I want to be out there. I want to pitch, to do it not only for myself but for the fans.”

  • Dillon Dingler is the Tigers’ Heart and Hustle winner.
  • If you missed this incredible moment from Monday’s game, we’re resharing it.
  • A quick look at the medical updates.
  • Even a cool hype video can’t make me like this stadium name change.

MLB News

  • Alex Bregman is a trooper.

He will also get to skip a trip to the IL and might be back playing as soon as this weekend.

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Is Zack Wheeler a top three right handed pitcher in Phillies history?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park on September 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Zack Wheeler last night joined an exclusive club by vaulting past the 2,000 career strikeout number. He joins a list of names that includes fellow Phillies Aaron Nola, Roy Halladay, Jaime Moyer, Robin Roberts, Cole Hamels and Curt Schilling. It’s not a nothing stat that he has made it as it puts him in the company of the game’s greats and longest tenured starters.

It’s quite the accomplishment.

It made me think of today’s question: is Wheeler already among the franchise’s top three right handed starters in their long and storied history? The top two are probably Roberts and Grover Cleveland Alexander with an argument that Schilling is ahead of Wheeler, maybe Nola if longevity is something that still holds a lot of meaning to you. For me, my top five is (remember: right handed only):

  1. Robin Roberts
  2. Grover Cleveland Alexander
  3. Zack Wheeler
  4. Curt Schilling
  5. Aaron Nola

You can talk to me about Jim Bunning and I’ll listen. I wouldn’t argue with those that maybe had him in the top five somewhere.

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Does the gap between Alonso and his teammates reveal an issue with O’s hitting approach?

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run in the ninth inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Hailey Leonard/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Orioles, as a collective unit, have failed in 2026. Some players got hurt, some players struggled, and a few were traded away. The team will finish with a losing record and miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Few things have worked out, but there’s one thing that cannot be questioned—Pete Alonso delivered in his first season in Baltimore.

The organization entered the last offseason looking to make a splash, and they found their match with Alonso. The Orioles reportedly offered free agent Kyle Schwarber a similar deal, but Schwarber elected to return to Philadelphia at five years, $150 million. Shortly after, the Birds inked Alonso to five years and $155 million.

Schwarber has been as advertised in Philadelphia—he leads the NL in home runs and strikeouts—so the deal appears to have worked out just fine. However, the big slugger has only started 10 games in the field. Alonso, on the other hand, has developed into a plus defender at first base.

Baltimore entered the year with Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo already on the roster. Injuries to Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg eventually created room on the infield, but the Birds never let a crowded unit stop them from acquiring a top talent.

The same cannot be said for the rotation. Baltimore sent a king’s ransom to Tampa Bay for Shane Baz, but they stopped short of acquiring one of the top starters on the market. The Orioles may have believed that Baz, Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers had the makings of a big three, but the unit never achieved that level.

Everyone can remember how they felt about the offseason at the time, but how do you feel now? It’s difficult to truly assess the moves when the team fell so short of expectations. Adding a true ace may have helped, but this team was more than one signing away from a successful 2026.

Before the Orioles were all but eliminated, many wondered why a struggling Gunnar Henderson continued to get at bats at the top of the order. Baltimore skipper Craig Albernaz said that this team would not get where it wanted to go if Gunnar Henderson didn’t play like Gunnar Henderson. He was right, but Henderson never came close to his 8.8 bWAR season from 2023.

As we approach the offseason, it’s fair to wonder if Gunnar Henderson is ever going to play like 2023 Gunnar Henderson. Maybe 2025 and 2026 Gunnar Henderson is the real Gunnar Henderson? Will the real Gunnar Henderson please stand up?

What if it’s not the right Gunnar Henderson? Can the 2027 Orioles get to where they want to go? The organization is shaking things up with Matt Blood moving on, but Craig Albernaz and Mike Elias appear positioned to remain with the club.

The Orioles will enter the offseason with money to spend under David Rubenstein, but the Alonso signing proved that one good deal is not enough to make a difference. However, Alonso’s success could say something about his approach and how it compares to that of the organization.

Alonso entered the clubhouse as an unquestioned star. There were never any reports that Alonso rebuffed the coaching staff, and he routinely received praise for his leadership traits. At the same time, Alonso was never in need of any coaching. He brought an approach that worked, and he deployed it night after night. The slugger described home runs as “happy accidents” and credited his dedication to hitting the ball hard to all fields. Alonso leads Major League Baseball with 17 opposite-field home runs.

Meanwhile, guys like Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser struggled to maximize their skills. Where does that blame go? Some falls on the player, but there’s a pattern here. Fans can speculate that it’s a pull-side approach, swinging for the fences, or all the platooning, but it’s probably a little more nuanced. I can’t tell you for sure, but I know that the Orioles need to find the root cause and make a correction.

It’s scary to think how much harder this season would have been to watch without Alonso playing every day. The former Met entered last night’s game with 16 more homers and 45 more RBIs than any other Oriole. Baltimore does deserve credit for giving the money to the Polar Bear and not another free agent. Bo Bichette has been worth only 0.7 WAR after slashing .263/.312/.392 with 17 homers. Kyle Tucker holds similar numbers with 17 bombs, a .234/.334/.393 line, and 1.1 bWAR. Alonso entered last night’s game with a 4.6 bWAR.

The Orioles should enter the offseason looking for outside help in the outfield, the bullpen, and the starting rotation. The team could struggle to attract top infield talent with Henderson, Alonso, and Jordan Westburg set to return, but a quality second baseman could play over Jackson Holliday and Blaze Alexander. Backup catcher Carlos Narváez has struggled at the plate when hitting for Samuel Basallo.

The team should know better than to tinker with Alonso after a borderline MVP season, but the team needs to rethink their development approach at the major league level. If the Orioles make that change, and whether they learn anything from Alonso’s success, could go a lot further than one big free agent signing heading into next season.

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Will JR Ritchie make the playoff roster?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jr. Ritchie #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

JR Ritchie had maybe his best outing as a major leaguer last night against the Reds. I say maybe because, well, he did give up a homer, and also that the level of competition he faced from the Cincinnati attack was a lot lower than, say, what he faced in his MLB debut against the Nationals. But, I guess the main takeaway is that especially through the first nine batters, he was really good, in a way he often hasn’t been this season.

In some ways, the question of whether there’s space on the playoff roster for JR Ritchie isn’t really one about his merits, but more about franchise preference. The reality is that there’s just plenty of room for pretty much anyone on the pitching side. Across the 13 spots, you have:

  • Definite starters: Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle (2)
  • Starter-ish guys: Grant Holmes, Martin Perez (2)
  • Backend relievers: Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee, Raisel Iglesias (3)

Those guys alone leave six other spots. For those spots, you probably have:

  • Probably locks: Brent Suter, Dylan Dodd, Victor Mederos (3)

So then we’re down to three spots. I don’t see a reason why Ray Kerr wouldn’t get one. AJ Smith-Shawver is clearly being tested to be deployed in a bullpen role, so we’re down to one. And the candidates for that spot basically come down to JR Ritchie, and a recovered-enough Robert Suarez.

If Suarez is recovered enough to be trusted in a playoff situation, then it’s really Ritchie versus Kerr versus Smith-Shawver. I don’t see Ritchie winning that battle, necessarily, though Kerr may be redundant enough with Dodd and Suter that maybe the extra right-hander that works as a bulk-y mop-up type guy ends up on the roster instead.

So I guess it kind of comes down to how the Braves feel about Suarez when he gets his big league tune-ups, versus how they feel about Kerr with a bunch of lefties already in the bullpen, versus how they feel about Ritchie.

How do you think it plays out?

I should note, I guess, that this question is fairly academic. Teams tend to only use the same four-ish relievers in the playoffs, and I don’t know that any of the bubble guys mentioned here, save Suarez, really factor in. Ritchie would probably only pitch if the game were essentially decided, or it was a crazy extra-innings affair. I guess I should’ve made this question about Suarez, but that seems more clear-cut as a “if he looks recovered, yes, otherwise hmm.”

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Mets at Rangers: How to watch on SNY on Sept. 23, 2026

The Mets continue a three-game series against the Rangers at Globe Life Field on Wednesday night at 8:05 on SNY.

Mets Notes

  • Francisco Lindor enters play on Wednesday with 299 career home runs
  • Carson Benge is hitting .295/.357/.453 (.809 OPS) with 18 home runs, 20 doubles, and 77 runs scored in 130 games since April 23
  • Nolan McLean allowed one run on seven hits while walking three and striking out five in six innings during his last start on Sept. 17 against the Phillies

Today's Lineups

METS
RANGERS
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package via MLB or Amazon. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone.

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB?

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps:

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider.
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account.
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY.

How can I watch the game on the MLB App?

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.” 
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available. 

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

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Yankees vs. Red Sox MLB Wild Card series preview and prediction for 2026 Playoffs

(Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

I have been steeling my heart all week to do the unthinkable, to uncork the ultimate turncoat take as a Boston Red Sox fan: in predicting the looming Wild Card series with the New York Yankees, I was ready to predict that the Yankees would win. Gasp.

But then … (Travis Scott from The Odyssey Voice), a Tweet! 

Yes, it’s looking like Aaron Judge will not be available for the Yankees in the Wild Card round and potentially beyond, and no matter how you slice it, that’s a disaster for New York. Judge is the best hitter in the world, and their offense without him isn’t all that scary, particularly against left-handed pitching. 

This will have major domino effects on the series, and I would wager that the Red Sox’s apparent decision to load up rookie left-hander Payton Tolle for Game 1 has a lot to do with Judge’s absence. Tolle is easily their highest upside pitcher, but he’s never been in anything close to that kind of spot in his life. He’s as competitive as they come, but a hostile Bronx crowd will be a serious pressure cooker. 

Ok, now onto the mega preview. While it is theoretically possible that the Red Sox do not play the Yankees in a three-game all-the-marbles showdown in the Bronx in one of the American League Wild Card series, it would take an impossibly specific AL Central finish for Boston to somehow tank their way to an easier matchup. I feel confident publishing this now, and if I wind up being wrong … well, I’m just going to assume that’s what God wanted. The Yankees and Red Sox are currently fourth and fifth overall in FanDuel’s World Series winner odds, so it should be a pretty even matchup.

I wrote a lengthy breakdown of the pitching matchups in this series earlier this month, and speculated that Boston would go with Sonny Gray in Game 1 with Tolle in Game 2, while the Yankees would use Cam Schlittler and Max Fried in some order, though I wasn’t quite sure how healthy Fried was or if Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodon would get the other nod. That was apparently wrong-ish, as we’ve since received word that Cole will indeed get a start in the Wild Card series, and the way the rest will work out, it’s possible manager Aaron Boone is lining him up for Game 1 with Schlittler in Game 2. That’s a real risk to potentially hang Fried out to dry if the Yankees get swept, but it’s possible he’s just not healthy enough to run out their early and risk needing too much from the bullpen. They will possibly have Rodon in the bullpen, though that wouldn’t be ideal for the rest of their playoff run (if such a thing occurs). 

The Red Sox are going with their gut and Tolle, who has looked like a young ace in Garrett Crochet’s extended absence. It’s high risk, high reward, but with how little you can actually control in the MLB Playoffs, Tolle is the one guy with dominant swing-and-miss stuff that could get you a game singlehandedly. Meanwhile, it’s an open question if Crochet will be able to provide a bullpen role in the Wild Card, but as of last week he was throwing 92 miles per hour — still a ways to go. Gray is looking like the Game 2 starter with Ranger Suarez anchoring Game 3. All that seems fine.

Other than Crochet and reliever Justin Slaten, the Red Sox should be reasonably healthy for the series. They come with one of baseball’s best bullpens anchored by the late-30s Linsanity-run Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock and new acquisition Erik Miller. They’ll have bulk relief options with Brayan Bello and could even choose to start him in longer series, but I’d be surprised if he had anything to do in the Wild Card series. Only Masataka Yoshida and Curtis Mead and perhaps Eli White would figure into the offense if healthy, and Boston hasn’t relied on any of them for major production all year. Even Tanner Houck is looking like he’ll be back in some capacity, an absolutely shocking development for all who follow his long road back from a UCL tear.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are not so healthy. Their bullpen is stacked, as is their starting rotation, and I grant them a notable pitching edge over the Red Sox. But their lineup is just decimated. Trent Grisham may not be on the Wild Card roster, and with both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out as well, the Yankees are going to be relying on players they’d rather avoid; Max Schuemann, Amed Rosario and perhaps even Anthony Volpe could mix in. That’s not anyone’s idea of Murderers’ Row.

So what’s at stake for everyone? For New York, it all hinges on Judge. If he’s not available at any point, it is borderline unserious to project the Yankees to win four rounds. But they really do have stacked pitching, and you can get pretty damn far on just pitching in the MLB Playoffs if you can get a few lucky hits. For the Red Sox, making it out of the Wild Card for the first time in 2021 is essential. They just canned the interim tag on now-official manager Chad Tracy and signed him to a three-year deal; the organization is committed to this team, this philosophy, and this season. 

There’s also the emotional preview, which I will run through quickly: Red Sox/Yankees isn’t necessarily the same rivalry as it used to be, but it’s starting to work it’s way back into the cultural zeitgeist. This is two straight years of Wild Card action, and Boston’s last three playoff series came against the Yankees.

Here’s the deal: if all were fair and healthy, I would pick the Yankees. The three-man rotation of Cole, Schlittler and Fried is just out of this world, though I don’t necessarily agree that Cole deserves the start more than Rodon. But this is a cruel world, and Boston’s lineup is significantly better than New York’s. Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Adley Rutschman, Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu are a rock-solid one through five, and there’s no more black holes in the lineup with a major bench/pinch-hitting advantage. There’s still a chance they just get mowed down by Schlittler and Fried, but Boston’s rotation isn’t that much worse. But it’s a fascinating series, but I’m picking the Red Sox to win in three games. We’ll give Schlittler game two, and then Boston advances to play Tampa Bay. One day, I’ll pick the Yankees in this column. But it is not this day!

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Thoughts on a 6-3 Rangers loss

Justin Foscue of the Texas Rangers attempts a double play during the game between the New York Mets and Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on September 22, 2026. (Photo by Seth Garber/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mets 6, Rangers 3

  • Sigh.
  • What an awful game.
  • Bad defense.
  • A bad relief appearance from Nathan Eovaldi.
  • Bad hitting.
  • As many Rangers batters reaching on HBPs as hits.
  • Just a miserable, disappointing game at the worst possible time.
  • And now Texas, who was in the driver’s seat and had control of their own playoff destiny, now have to win one more game than Houston in the last five.
  • Yesterday, I was super nervous.
  • Today? Today, I’m just really bummed.
  • MacKenzie Gore topped out at 96.0 mph with his fastball, averaging 93.9 mph. Nathan Eovaldi maxed out at 94.1 mph with his fastball. Robert Garcia’s fastball reached 94.9 mph. Jakob Junis touched 93.6 mph with his fastball. Peyton Gray hit 94.4 mph with his fastball.
  • Wyatt Langford had a 106.3 mph sacrifice fly. Elias Diaz had a 105.8 mph sacrifice fly.
  • Not giving up hope. Let’s get back to .500 today.